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2021 Sampler Class - Paper Piecing...all year round

  2021 dates...
assignments will be due by
theses dates

         March  16th
         April    20th
         May     18th
         June    15th
         Aug     17th
         Sept   21st
         Oct     19th
         Nov     16th
   
     
May 18th assignment... due June 15th


you may choose to do one or  both of the Butterfly blocks for May's assignment. 


 Make 3 copies of the pattern page... cut sections apart as indicated by the  red lines, remembering to include the
1/4" seam allowance beyond  the solid lines...including the outer edges.

 Follow general instructions from first month's information
to construct the blocks.

      


    






  SECTIONS:
   A - B - C - D - E                                                                                         
                                                                      
once the sections are constructed...stitch the sections together.
 
 REMEMBER...the solid black lines are the
STITCHING lines and the fabrics 
need to extend past the outer lines at
least 1/4" so that you are able to trim the
block to 8"
...finished size 7.5"                                                        
    






April 20th assignment... due May 18th

you may choose to do one or both of the Flower Pot blocks for April. 

(Confession...I did the "chick" block because it only had three sections!)


 Make 2 copies of the pattern page... cut sections apart as indicated by
 the red lines, remembering to include the 1/4" seam allowance beyond
 the solid lines...including the outer edges.

 Follow general instructions from first month's information to construct
 the blocks.

                            
                   

                                                         
the three sections                     



 once the sections are constructed...stitch the sections together 
 REMEMBER...the solid black lines are the STITCHING lines and
 the fabrics  need to extend past the outer lines at least 1/4"
 so that you are able to trim the block to 8"...finished size 7.5"
 



 Check out what others are doing with blocks...
 VISIT the Show & Tell FACEBOOK group!
 

                  

 
March 16th assignment... due April 20th

 you may choose to do one or both of the Gnome blocks for March. 

 I am thinking that I may want to put all blocks together into one project
 so I chose to use the same dot print for background as I did in the 
 Valentine block.



 Make 3 copies of the pattern page... cut sections apart as indicated by
 the red lines, remembering to include the 1/4" seam allowance beyond
 the solid lines...including the outer edges.

 Follow general instructions from first month's information to construct
 the blocks. 

 
                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 once the sections are constructed...stitch the sections together
 REMEMBER...the solid black lines are the STITCHING lines and the fabrics
 need to extend past the outer lines at least 1/4" so that you are
 able to trim the block to 8"...finished size 7.5"




 Check out what others are doing with blocks...
 VISIT the Show & Tell FACEBOOK group!
 

February 16 assignment...due March 16


you may choose to do one or both blocks from the January and February Block
patterns.   the requirement is to do one from each month...just depends on what
you want to do with the blocks when you are finished!

all block patterns for the year are pictured on page 5, the patterns start on
page 39, page 38 has a few tips that you will want to read thru...
  
General instructions and illustration of paper piecing using the "Valentine with Bow"
block begin on page 7.  In addition to the items listed for "Tools" ~ a pair
of tweezers will be handy when it's time to pull the paper off! 
The "things to know" suggests a stitch length of 1.5 however, while that is good
for perforating the paper, if you have to un-sew (and you will, it's just part of
the process) a stitch length a bit longer is easier to rip out, I use a length of 2.0
  
it's important to 'finger press' the seams as you go, you want to avoid a tuck
that can happen if not pressed crisply.  if you have one of the 4-in-1 tools that
works very well. I do like to press each section with the iron as I go...be sure
to use a dry iron, steam will 'wilt' the paper!!

each pattern must be copied from the book...multiple copies are needed,
each pattern will indicate the number of copies needed.  the instructions say
to make color copies...this is up to you ~ I used black copies
which did give me shades then used the page from the book to refer to for
color placement.

      
Since the "Paper Piecing Basics" chapter illustrates the February 'Valentine with Bow' block,
I would suggest starting with that block if you are new to Paper Piecing.
the general instruction suggests using a large scrap, I find that using a strip at least a couple inches
wider than the area that is to be covered works most of the time.  many of the lines are at an angle which
makes it tricky to guess where to place the second fabric.

for January - I did "Snowman 2"
...step one - make copies of the pattern and cut the sections apart
...step two - start with section A ...place the fabric for piece 1 under the paper to check to
                   see that it will cover the area.  (refer to page 3)
...step three - place fabric for piece 2 right sides together (RST) with fabric for piece 1
...step four - stitch on the line between area 1 & 2
...step five - trim the fabric around the paper pattern ...1/4" beyond the solid line

continue to construct the sections for the block in alphabetical order...following the numerical order
within each section,
                                                                        











 
             




                                   

Tips...

 use the edge of a postcard to fold the paper pattern along the seam line to trim
the fabric for the seam allowance.  when trimming, be sure to line the 1/4" line of your
ruler up with the folded edge of the paper.
...IMPORTANT!!  resit the urge to trim along the folded edge!!!
when you have to un-sew, I find it easier to cut the stitches between the two fabrics.
it's too easy to rip the paper if you try to cut the thread from the paper side!
occasionally scrap trimmings from a section will be large enough to cover small areas on
another section,

FYI...in case you haven't noticed...the finished block is the reverse of the printed pattern image.

                     






SHOW & TELL   ...Suzanne's snowmen!